A parent has punched and knocked out a club assistant referee which resulted in a criminal prosecution.
Ray Ward, Surrey County FA
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STATE OF THE GAMEMondays, Sky Sports News
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As our State of the Game series continues, we ask whether abuse from the touchlines is casting a shadow over youth football.
Parents regularly go to watch their youngsters play football, but sometimes they cross the line - quite literally - and enter the field of play or shout abuse at players and officials.
The problem is so bad that games are being abandoned across the country. Sky Sports News has learned that 16 youth matches have been called off in Surrey so far this season as a result of spectator misbehaviour.
There have also been 14 games abandoned in both Lancashire and London, while in Birmingham, 38 different clubs have been reported for spectator misconduct at youth games.
Surrey County FA Secretary Ray Ward told Sky Sports News that they have had to take action to try and combat the problem.
He said: "In Surrey it's getting a lot worse.
"We've had a lot of abandonments this year, so much so that we had to write to all the youth clubs in October.
"We've had abuse by parents on referees. A parent has punched and knocked out a club assistant referee which resulted in a criminal prosecution."
Pressure
The issue means less people are signing up to become referees for youth games and young players are giving up on the sport because of the pressure from the sidelines.
However, steps are being taken to try and improve things. The FA are trialling a scheme in 20 youth leagues where parents are kept off the pitch in a cordoned-off area
The results of this 'Respect' trial will be assessed in June and if deemed a success they want three-quarters of all grass-roots leagues and clubs signed up to it within the next four years.
In Wigan, roped off areas have been used for three seasons and misconduct on the touchline has all-but disappeared - while the take-on rate for referees and the standard of football both appear to have improved.
FA Technical development Director Trevor Brooking said: "It's not going to be improved overnight but I think even on the 10-week scheme the feedback is that this is something we should have done quite a while ago."
To see more on our Touchline Trouble special report, see the video in the top right of your screen.
What do you think about trouble on the touchlines? Join the debate here.
